Last quarter of the NFL season….got your seatbelt on?

I would like to thank Major Kong for taking over my last blog post while I took a mini-vacation to NYC to see Christmas stuff with my girls and with a bunch of my friends and their girls. There were about 35 of us womenfolk, and fortunately the authorities did not need to get involved. This was planned last summer, so no, I didn’t purposely run away after the Texans lost…it was just fortuitous.

Took me a bit of time today to catch up on what has been going on, catch up with blog comments and whatnot. (Hilton Hotels thinks it is a great idea to make people pay $15 for internet. Strangely, at their lower-priced hotels, internet is thrown in for free, but at their expensive properties, even if you are a “Silver VIP” member, they still make you want to pay. I couldn’t figure out the benefits of being a Silver VIP other than you get to stand in a mammoth line at check-in that is just as long as the mammoth line at check-in that non-VIPs get. I’m not meaning to Peter King you too much, I just wanted to say to anyone that even half-way cares that loyalty programs that give you few discernible benefits are odd. For those who travel more than me, which ones do you think are better? Yes, that is a major digression but for regular readers, that shouldn’t be a surprise).

So this is what I know about the Texans on Tuesday, December 7, 2010 for an overdue Link Roundup Time Capsule:

Playoffs?! Playoffs?!!!

Though Gary Kubiak has plenty of detractors, but at least after the loss to the Eagles, he didn’t talk about being out of the playoffs. That’s what Rex Ryan did after a disappointing Week 15 loss to Atlanta last year: “We’re obviously out of the playoffs, and that’s unfortunate.”

So, Josh McDaniels gets fired for too many reasons to count. It’s the Smuckers jam rule: If don’t look the part of whatever job you have for reasons out of your control–age, gender, various immutable physical characteristics–you better be really really good at your job. And McDaniels was indisputably the opposite of good.

When Kubiak left the Bronco organization, many fans wanted him to stay and continued following what he was doing with the Texans. Some Denver fans believe that Kubiak was a good personality buffer for Mike Shanahan who could sometimes rub folks the wrong way.

Other Bronco fans just want real change. Not change back. They already experienced having an explosive offense with a terrible defense in Shanahan Srs days. We have enough issues here, so I’ll let Bronco fans deal with their own rebuilding.

For those inclined to want draft picks for an under contract Kubiak, that is a non-starter. As commenter Larry House pointed out on Twitter, after the Jon Gruden for draft picks trade, NFL rules were changed to prohibit those deals in the future.

Kubiak was repeatedly asked about these rumors today, and he wasn’t biting. I’m guessing if Kubiak eventually goes, he’d have plenty of people wanting to talk to him.

Pass Protection

I’ve linked to AOL FanHouse’s JJ Cooper’s stuff before. One of my favorite things that he does is focus on line play, and for a while, he’s been tracking sack totals. Not just the numbers, but who is responsible and how long did it take before the sack occurred. Check out his piece called, “O-Line ‘Em Up: Who’s Responsible for the Sacks, Week 12.” An unfortunate number of Texans on this list, with right tackle, Eric Winston near the top of the list.

JJ concedes that sometimes it is difficult to tell who is responsible for a sack but he tries to allow for that in his methodology. If you have any questions about that article, let me know and I will get an answer for you.

Which leads to the Ravens game coming up that will be a big test of the Texans against a very physical team. I can’t do any better than Alan Burge of the Houston Texans Examiner in discussing the Ravens test for the Texans.

Seems to me from the video that if Texans safety Bernard Pollard wanted to completely pollardize Gage, he could have hit him much harder than that from a running start. It’s not a simple tackle to make given the relative position of the receiver and the other defender who was also in on the play. He didn’t lead with his helmet, and he had to run a bit to even have a chance at a play.

More Me Time.

Melissa Jacobs of espnW and her own site, The Football Girl, asked me to do an interview on a variety of topics. Please read it if you are interested in what I have to say about myself blah blah blee and the Texans or ridiculously saying nice things about the Chargers before they stunk against the Raiders.

More You Time

In association with their “Take it to the House” Facebook page and the Blogger Fantasy League I’m participating in, P&G gave me a bunch of home and health products and told me to give them away to fans in whatever way I chose. So the first batch I took to the tailgates.

I showed up really early a few weeks ago and visited the Platinum and Yellow lots giving away stuff. I wanted to put together a video of fans doing commercials for the products they picked out.

I don’t know about you, but when I was a kid, we would ham up pretend commercials into the tape recorder and had big fun doing that. And I must confess that I found shooting these tailgate video pretty fun. Thanks to all who participated and left with P&G parting gifts.

Here’s the video with me in a rare on-video introductory cameo in full fan gear. Recognize anyone? If so, pass the video their way:

Now, you might be saying, “Hey Steph, we like free stuff too. Where’s my free stuff?” Well then, you have the opportunity to get free stuff from P&G from their Facebook page, including a trip to the Pro Bowl or the Super Bowl. (That Super Bowl contest is a good, easy to participate option–I am guessing that there are not that many winning entries submitted so far. And I think I saw some good Pro Bowl entry sorts of stuff from just in that video).

Unfortunately, my Team Vicks “For A Better Tomorrow” P&G Blogger Fantasy League team suffered a setback last week, falling from 2nd to 5th place. I need to win this week to have a chance at the playoffs. I need to do some waiver stuff due to injuries/matchup changes, so if you have any good suggestions given the available players and matchups this week, I need to get my waiver requests in by Wednesday night.

* Requested legal disclosure I’m sure you pretty much figured out: The P&G Blogger Fantasy League (BFL) is a group of 12 digital sports influencers competing on the NFL.com fantasy platform for the chance to win P&G product, a donation to a local charity, and a trip to Super Bowl XLV, all furnished by P&G. The NFL Entities have not offered or sponsored the sweepstakes in any way.

So lots of topics here people. Get after it. (And note that I finally caught up with your comments in the previous post–read that if this blog post isn’t already enough reading).

29 Responses

Hope the NYC Hilton didn’t “throw in” any bedbugs! It’s a silent epidemic up there in Yankee-land.

[Yep. Especially this time of year, there are so many people packed together. There were times in line at the American Girl Store that I had thoughts of tremendous despair. Yes! Let's have two people checking out 30+ people and their assorted bedbugs. But as long as the kids were amused.... -Steph]

4 more games. Need 3-1 just to finish even. Quick take would say that’s best case scenario as a sweep seems unbelievably unlikely. At least a sweep where the Texans win them all. On the other hand, all are losable. I’d like to think the Broncos turmoil would be enough to make that ‘easy’ as NFL games go, but there’s no such thing.

What does seem likely is 2-2; winning at TN and evening record with Jags.

7-9 with little prospect to improve.

I wouldn’t mind the approach you referred to in response to a commenter at the end of your last post. Fire Smith, let new GM decide Kubiak’s fate, and regardless, Bush is gone.

[That is the preferred way that most owners like to go. Denver is looking for a GM, and they are going away from the strong coach model of management. -Steph]

I find it very amusing that Texan fans continue with the mantra “We are an expansion team” excuse……..In this day and age of pro football a team has really got to try hard NOT to go to the playoffs after nine years, especially after being given the opportunity to draft the top talent each year of their existence……As I was the first to describe the inept Texan defense as the “Briquette Defense” years ago before it was in vogue and that the owner embraces mediocrity like a warm blanket, I will try and continue to educate you as often as I can.

I’ll check the scores on Monday but really all I care about for the rest of this lost season is the announcement from Bob McNair that Kubiak and Smith are fired. Other than that there’s not much to get excited about unless I become a masochist.

[I call bull. If the Texans pull a 2009 Jets this season and come back from the dead, you can't tell me that you wouldn't get caught up in it. -Steph]

The NFL is ridiculous, with their no contact rules. Ronnie Lott would have been fined into the poor house, and run out of the league instead of being enshrined in the HOF if he played nowadays.

Playoffs?…(Insert obligatory Mora Sr. quote here). It is not as far fetched as most would believe. Wouldn’t that send the Texans oriented blogosphere into a fit of tail-chasing “I’m so confused” craziness regarding Kubiak that it would would create a temporal vortex that would suck us back into a never ending loop of 8-8 or 9-7 seasons…Wait a minute,AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!, it happenned, the Texans are going to make the playoffs this year! We are doomed like Roland and will forever relive 5-7 starts and last minute wins and loses. The horror…,the horror.

Stephanie- Four games left & it is time for the Texans to ‘win out’ during garbage time. While other teams look to the playoffs we Houstonians will be enjoying the Texans Toilet Bowl once again. Did I say once?!?

OK, I tried optimism for two of the recent games, and not without justification. Texans stood up to the Jets and to the Eagles, offered stiff competition. But they screwed up and lost the games–they didn’t get beat (getting beat: Brady, Belichick, and the Patriots beating snot out of the Jets). They didn’t lose either game by 40.

I’m thinking they lose to the Ravens by 40. I see this as the week when the wheels come off, the locker room splinters, the team goes to pieces. I can imagine meltdowns, total loss of discipline (Winston gives up, Schaub gets hurt), bitter acrimony, Kubiak going delusional, Pollard ejected, Jacoby starting a brawl. Think: end of movie M*A*S*H.

Hope I’m wrong, but honestly, I wouldn’t mind seeing a clear reason to clean house and try another (non-moping) coach and an experienced (and non-narcissistic?) GM. Or, least-acceptable option: Keep Mopey Gary, get a real GM, get Fox or Marv Lewis or Wade for defense.

While you were braving bedbugs in Gotham City, I took a quick trip to Louisville and found the Downtown Marriott to be utterly satisfactory. Too bad there’s nothing worth going to Louisville for other than work. NYC wins on “points of interest” points. Let’s all celebrate being back in the best American city. Why leave?

The sack info was very interesting…you always have great stuff to read!

I do worry about the Texans when they play really physical teams, especially teams that blitz. They either don’t recognize the blitz, or are just not physical enough to handle it. I don’t think Schaub is as tough as Ben, so I hope he comes out of it in one piece.

The real question is: who’d you pick up for your fantasy team? I don’t know who was available for you. I recently picked up Chris Ivory and Sidney Rice. Mike Tolbert’s on fire too, though he’s likely gone. I also picked up the Browns Defense who are quietly putting up nice numbers.

After two years in the basement of my league, this year I tied for first for the regular season crown (lost the tiebreaker on points) and have a packed lineup for the playoffs. So packed I may even bench Andre due to his questionable injury status, Monday start, and tough match up. Kinda nice when you can consider benching Andre.

[I am scrambling. Rodgers, McCoy, Tolbert, Mason, Ocho, Meachem, Tamme, Choice, Jacobs, Burleson, Collie, Nicks, Celek, Janikowski, Eagles D. 6 of those guys were in my original draft. Watching the situation with Tamme's knee, and in a furious debate with self on Tolbert v. Jacobs. Tolbert stunk last week and Jacobs non-stunk--I would have won had I gone Jacobs. Available players here: http://fantasy.nfl.com/league/162951/players -Steph]

Couple of things I could see happening with the Texans this last quarter of the season.

1)Thursday the Colts find a way to lose to the oilers and Sunday the Jags choke one up to the Raiders…Monday our Battlereddened Texans are presented with a golden opportunity and they come out pancake style….FLAT.

2)The Texans start this last quarter 3-0, with week 17 against the Jags a simple Win and your in…..the Mittens Carr 7-9 season haunts us again

Everyone is so set on Kubiak getting fired. Unless this team shows obvious cowboyesque quit, it’s not happening IMO.

I will enjoy these remaining games of 2010 and the one on Jan 2, 2011 ( which is the wife and mine’s 18th anni) maybe we get a present…who knows, but I’m still cheering.

I’m glad the bland and uninspiring Texans will have loyal fans like you to keep filling their cofers with revenue…until a new coaching staff is installed, I will defer.

[Most season ticket holders have PSLs and tickets already. That is a sunk cost. You sell your PSL, some other person will buy it. Given that the Texans still have a theoretical chance at the playoffs, you can either be excited about Rockets basketball and pitchers and catchers coming up, or use the tickets you already bought. Seems to me, given the choice between being a grump or just going along with whatever the ride is, I'll take the ride. With my seatbelt fastened. -Steph]

Steph, I appreciate your optimism, but the difference between us and the Jets of last year is about EVERYTHING!! Better Head Caoch, better players, better defense, and an overall better franchise that plays hard ALL GAME, EVERY GAME.

The annual R.I.P. Texans season article should have been written two weeks ago when they lost to, well isn’t that ironic, the Jets.

[And yet, Rex Ryan got his ample backside handed to him on Monday night. You just never know. But, yeah, the Texans have their work cut out for them against a fairly balanced team in the Ravens. -Steph]

I think part of Hilton and Sheraton’s problem is they went through massive period of consolidation and customer service suffered and was set back some what. Hyatt and Marriott seemed to have less mergers and a little higher level of commitment to customer service.

Another reason I am confused about trading draft picks for Head Coaches; In 2006 which would be 4 years after Gruden was traded to Tampa the Kansas City Chiefs traded a 4th round pick to the New York Jets for Head Coach Herm Edwards.

At least the Texans defensive coaches will be able to see first hand the value of a 350 lb monster on the defensive line, that is when they have time to look up from their project of trying to turn base metals into gold.

I’d like to point out that I’m normally still enthusiastic and optimistic, but hey, giving up 30 points per game, throwing out the Rusty Smith anomaly, I feel justifies allowing myself to finally become as cynical about this team (among other things) as everybody else.

I think if I was Kubiak I would coach in a shirt (one with a collar of course and in battle red) that has “They hate me.” on the back. Of course that’s frowned upon in this establishment, and would probably draw a fine the size of a college semester tuition fees and books by Goodell, but then maybe getting Goodelled along with the players might build team spirit.

I was happily able to get out of that sunk PSL cost before the season, but completely understand those who have not. I basically donated some and gave away other tickets last year. Feel free to do the same, at least you get some joy out of the tickets. No need to throw bad money after bad money again and again. I appreciate the Dark Tower reference daveyboy, it certainly does feel like the Texans, and even more so their fans, are stuck in a similar situation as Roland, but watch out to not ruin a great story with spoilers. We all serve the beam. 19. Fire Kubiak.

One more chance, and maybe the last chance, for the Texans to show they can beat a good team. Lose this one and the last few against Denver, Tenn, and Jax don’t mean much. Den & Tenn aren’t very good this year, and Jax might be resting players. Beating those teams is expected. Beating the Ravens is not.

Baltimore is a chance for the Texans to show they are better than their record. It is a chance for them to show they still have fight left, and it is a chance for them to keep hanging on to the “in the hunt” graphic for at least another week. It is a chance for players to get noticed, with a national audience on Monday night. Whether it is a big game, or a meaningful game, is beyond the Texans control. We won’t know that until later. But it is a chance. And good teams take advantage of their chances.